A Podcast About Leadership

In pharma, the barrier to progress isn’t usually the science—it’s how well leaders align brilliant, functionally deep experts to move an asset forward together. In this candid conversation, AIIR Consulting CEO Jonathan Kirschner sits down with Ian Wilcox (AIIR Advisory Board member; former Global Head of Life Sciences at HayGroup; executive advisor and investor) and Megan Marshall (Managing Partner, AIIR Consulting) to unpack what it really takes to lead in matrixed cross-functional teams—from early research through clinical, regulatory, manufacturing, medical affairs, and commercial.

Drawing on decades in the industry, Jonathan, Megan, and Ian explore why influence (not authority) is the #1 leadership skill in life sciences, why self-awareness is its essential counterpart, and how leaders make the identity shift from subject-matter expert to enterprise leader. 

Key takeaways:

• Influence beats authority. In life sciences, the #1 leadership skill is influencing across disciplines; self-awareness is the essential counterpart that makes influence land.
• From SME to enterprise leader. High-caliber MDs/PhDs must shift identity from “proving I’m right” to orchestrating outcomes across matrixed cross-functional teams.
• “Dual citizenship” mindset. Great leaders stay rooted in their function while developing curiosity and fluency in clinical, regulatory, manufacturing, medical affairs, and commercial.
• Two meeting modes—be explicit. Superior leaders name when the team is in information-sharing vs decision-making mode and design debates to avoid sunk-cost bias.
• Six enterprise behaviors that matter. Clear decision frameworks; transcend silos; manage tension/ambiguity; align incentives & metrics; provide strategic direction; drive collective understanding.
• Set the stage, not just the agenda. Purpose, expectations, and “why you’re in the room” beat long decks and “functional imperial” updates that cause people to check out.
• Industry pressures reshaping leadership. AI accelerating early discovery; tougher patient recruitment; platform/partnering models; and a disrupted commercial playbook demand new ways of working.
• Economics raise the stakes. Pricing pressure from payers/government and narrowing launch windows force smarter cross-functional bets and faster, evidence-based pivots.
• Identity choices are healthy. Not everyone should “leave the science”—organizations need prestigious IC paths alongside enterprise leadership tracks.
• Timeless beyond pharma. These cross-functional leadership muscles translate to any sector facing complexity, speed, and high-stakes decisions.

Want to learn more? You can download our whitepaper, Leadership's Critical Role in Cross-Functional Pharmaceutical Teams.

Fifty years ago, it wasn’t uncommon for someone to spend their entire career at a single company, with a clear career path and the resources and training programs to give them the skills they needed to advance along that path. Today, that world has largely disappeared. Organizations hire to meet their needs, employees move on quickly, and the bonds of loyalty have dissolved in both directions.

Few people understand this transformation better than Dr. Peter Cappelli. Peter is the bestselling author of Talent on Demand, The New Deal at Work, Our Least Important Asset, In Praise of the Office, and countless other books on talent management and people strategy. He is the George W. Taylor Professor of Management at the Wharton School, Director of its Center for Human Resources, and one of the most influential voices in human resources.

In our latest episode of A Podcast About Leadership, Dr. Cappelli joins hosts Dr. Jonathan Kirschner and Dr. Joy Nissen to unpack the evolving relationship between employers and employees. In this incredible conversation, we cover:

• How organizations shifted from loyalty and long-term development to transactional, market-driven talent decisions
• The positive and negative effects of this shift on leaders
• What talent leaders must do to rebuild trust and purpose inside their organizations
• How to balance efficiency and agility with the need for human development

For CHROs and other senior talent professionals, this conversation is a candid look at the forces reshaping the future of work — and what it will take to design organizations that can thrive in the years to come.

In this episode of A Podcast About Leadership, Dr. Jonathan Kirschner, founder and CEO of AIIR Consulting, explores the mindset and skillset leaders need to navigate uncertainty. As volatility and complexity redefine the workplace, Kirschner challenges traditional notions of resilience and offers a modern, science-backed approach to navigating ambiguity with confidence. Drawing on AIIR’s proven leadership framework, he shares practical tools for self-regulation, emotional agility, and strategic decision-making under pressure. From managing high-performing teams in turbulent times to turning disruption into opportunity, this conversation equips leaders with the insight to stay grounded, adaptive, and impactful—no matter what lies ahead. Whether you're a senior executive, HR leader, or talent development professional, this episode offers timely, actionable guidance for leading through uncertainty with clarity and purpose.

Welcome to A Podcast About Leadership, brought to you by AIIR Consulting. 

In today’s episode, AIIR Head of Team Effectiveness Dave Gloss speaks with Dean Bell, a leader in KPMG’s Deal Advisory and Strategy practice and a member of the company’s Board of Directors. 

Dean has more than 20 years of experience and expertise leading M&As. In this conversation, he and Dave talk about he state of the market, what separates successful mergers and acquisitions from those that aren’t, and what it takes to combine two companies with different cultures.

This is the second episode in our skills series! In this series, we’ll explore the 45 skills represented in the AIIR Leadership Framework in 5 minutes or less, so that you can learn, then get back to leading.  Today, we’re talking about a skill everyone could use more of: Self-Awareness.

Welcome to "A Podcast About Leadership," brought to you by AIIR Consulting. Each episode, our network of experts explores the challenges leaders face, and the skills they'll need to overcome them.

Dealing with change is nothing new for successful leaders. But over the past decade, the speed and severity of change has increased exponentially. The result? Nearly 70% of leaders report feeling overwhelmed by change. In this episode, we talk to Jamie Ramsden, an author, former CEO and senior executive coach about what it takes to lead in such a dynamic environment. 

We also talk about Jamie’s new book, “Let’s Go! How Great Leaders Shape the Future,” which aims to empower executives and leaders to elevate their game, better understand themselves and their world, and live to their fullest potential―not for a few months or even a few years, but forever. Whether you're a seasoned executive or an emerging leader, this episode offers actionable advice and inspiring stories to elevate your leadership journey.

This is the first episode in our skills series! In this series, we’ll explore the 45 skills represented in the AIIR Leadership Framework in 5 minutes or less, so that you can learn, then get back to leading.  Today, we’re starting with a skill identified by our 2024 Leadership Trends survey as one of the most important for leaders in the coming year: Self-Care.

Welcome to A Podcast About Leadership, brought to you by AIIR Consulting. Each episode, we talk to experts about the always-changing challenges leaders face, and the skills and support they need to overcome those challenges. In this episode, we delve into the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on leadership with data scientist, AI expert and author Dr. Bruce Katz.

AI has been around for a while. But over the past two years it has evolved at an unprecedented pace, upending the workplace with its ability to perform not only repetitive roles, but the analytical roles that previously seemed safe from technological advances. How is it changing what it means to lead?

With degrees in philosophy and a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence, and as the Chief Innovation Officer for AIIR Analytics, Bruce is the perfect person to help listeners understand how AI is changing how we select and develop leaders, and how it's changing the skills necessary to lead.

In this episode, Thom Fox is joined by Derek Lusk, Ph. D, Head of Executive Assessment at AIIR.  In his role, Derek leverages his background in psychology and statistics to forecast success in top leadership roles. One of the aspects influencing a leader’s success is their ability to inspire and motivate others, which impacts employee engagement. According to the Gallup organization, in the United States 32% of full- and part-time employees are engaged, while 17% are actively disengaged. We delve into how the movement toward a decentralized workplace, accelerated by the advent of remote and hybrid opportunities, impacts employee engagement, as well as how this revolution has changed the mantle of leadership.  Despite the challenges, there are ways to enhance engagement and build a culture with a strong sense of purpose, and Derek offers his thoughts and advice on how leaders can evolve to meet the trials ahead.  If you’re working to build a more cohesive culture or build your leadership muscles to better engage a decentralized workforce, this episode offers perspective and actionable advice to get you started.

In this episode, we bring you an insightful conversation on the power of bringing teams together from AIIR Consulting’s Webinar Series. AIIR Head of Team Effectiveness Dave Gloss joins Carole Streicher, U.S. Deal Advisory and Strategy Leader at KPMG, to talk about why bringing teams together is the key to equipping them to succeed in an environment of constant change. From modest beginnings scooping ice cream to becoming the first woman to lead KPMG’s deal advisory and strategy group, a team of 2,300, Carole brings a wealth of experience and expertise to both her role and the conversation. Dave and Carole dig into the power of a great leadership team, and a leader’s role in creating conditions for their team’s success in uncertainty. If you’re working to build a more effective team, or leading people through change, this episode provides wonderful advice to get you grounded.